EWTN NEWS NIGHTLY SPECIAL REPORT: SCOTUS

EWTN Granted Emergency Relief From HHS Contraception Mandate

The EWTN Global Catholic Network has secured temporary emergency relief against the federal contraception mandate one day before it would have gone into effect.

"We are thankful that the 11th Circuit protected our right to religious freedom while we pursue our case in court," said Michael Warsaw, chairman and CEO of EWTN, the parent company of the Register and Catholic News Agency. "We want to continue to practice the same Catholic faith that we preach to the world every day."

Without the injunction to protect against the mandate, EWTN would have been forced to comply with its demands starting July 1 or face potential fines of more than $35,000 per day in penalties for refusing to do so.

Issued under the Affordable Care Act, the federal mandate requires most employers to either provide or facilitate employee insurance coverage for contraception, sterilization and some drugs that can cause early abortions.

As an organization founded to uphold the Catholic faith, EWTN objects to providing or facilitating these products and practices, which violate Church teaching.

The injunction was granted just hours after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Hobby Lobby and other closely held corporations cannot be required to abide by the mandate if their owners have religious objections to it.

Warsaw noted that "it remains unclear" whether the Supreme Court's decision will address concerns over the "accommodation" for nonprofit religious groups.

"On the same day as the Hobby Lobby decision, the 11th Circuit protected religious ministries challenging the same government mandate," said Lori Windham, senior counsel at the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, the nonprofit, public interest law firm that is defending EWTN in court.

Established 33 years ago, EWTN is the largest religious media network in the world, reaching more than 230 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories.

The network includes television, radio and a publishing arm, along with a website and both electronic and print news services.

"It's time for the government to stop fighting ministries like EWTN and the Little Sisters of the Poor and start respecting religious freedom," Windham said.

Also read:

Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Hobby Lobby, Conestoga Wood in 5-4 Decision

Religious Liberty Prevails in 'Burwell v. Hobby Lobby'